Issue - meetings

Court Judgements Relating to Children and Families

As corporate parents and having regard to the
issues identified in the two court judgements of His Honour Mr.
Justice Keehan related to fostering and
adoption within the county, to receive a report on the actions
taken and planned to deliver the required, and associated or
related identified improvements.

Council considered a report
from the chief executive which set out the details and issues
relating to the recent court judgements of the His Honour Mr.
Justice Keehan.

The Leader introduced the
report and restated the council’s apology to the young people
who were the subjects of the court judgements. The council had
accepted the judgements, recognised the failings outlined and
expressed deep regret for the impact on the children. The council
was very grateful for the work of adopters. It was acknowledged
that there had been problems and that when such issues come to
light it was easy to assume that there were issues throughout the
service. As councillors and corporate
parents it was acknowledged that there would be disappointment in
the judgements however it was also important to consider, in
totality, the work undertaken by the children and families
directorate. The positive impacts of the work of the directorate
were evident in the school results which children in Herefordshire
had achieved recently. Following the judgements the council was now
taking action which included engaging with external providers such
as the Doncaster Children’s Trust and were open and honest
about the improving services and ensuring that children received a
good level of care. The scale of the challenge and the work that
was needed required arrangements to be put into place to support
those who work with children. As corporate parents all members were
required to assist the council to identify the help and support
required.

During the debate members made
the following principal points:

·It was queried whether local residents were aware of
the pressures that children’s services were under and that
there was a growing number of children who had suffered abuse or
neglect and required the intervention of the council.

·There were currently over 300 children in care and
those staff at the council who were responsible for administering
the procedures around care were under significant pressure. Within
a busy and pressurised working environment administrative and
supervisory processes could fail. It was important for members to
bear in mind the difficult work that many social workers carried
out when considering the issues raised in the
judgements.

·The improvements being undertaken to systems and
processes and efforts around the recruitment and retention of staff
were encouraging.

·The role of scrutiny in respect of the judgements
was raised. It was queried how scrutiny could review such issues
effectively if it was not aware until after the judgements had been
published. A member contended that the role of scrutiny had been
diminished over the last three administrations at the council.
The chairperson of the children and young people
scrutiny committee explained that the work programme was agreed at
the start of the municipal year but if issues arose which the
committee were unaware of it could consider those items when they
became apparent. There would be a discussion between the cabinet
member, chairman of the children and young people scrutiny
committee and the director children and families regarding how
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